Pakistan and Iran, Nuclear potential, unstability: Biden really scored on this one. Showing his experience and understanding of the middle east, and yes, gasp the region’s history before we entered. Palin is struggling, but she pronounced Akmadinijad correctly. Brings up her great convo with Kissinger. People hate America? oh here she goes, women’s rights, human rights, democracy – other people hate our values? We have to bring our allies around.

Biden says we’re not listening to those allies Palin wants to bring along. McCain won’t sit down with Spain. What about canada?

Joe Biden in third person. Bush policy is an abject failure says Joe Biden. Palin is encouraged to know “we both love Israel.” But where has she gone? Maverick, ruffling feathers, American people – change is coming? I believe we were talking about Iran and Pakistan, Palin.

Biden has a great lymric going – power of repetition and then BANG McCain’s policy is the same as George Bush’s. Youtube that shit.

Nuclear: if we’re judging by pronunciation, she seems to be right on track with GW.

Biden, third person AGAIN. he loves that.

Biden is scoring big on these series, Palin’s just mouthing Republican campaign rhetoric. Palin, “not used to how you guys operate in washington” – all she has is GOP talking points, Biden knows he’s won this round, he hasn’t stumbled once. Lots of umms from Palin…

Again, Biden points to Obama’s history of support for economic regulations and McCain’s record of supporting deregulation.

Ok, why is she allowed to switch the topic in the middle of the question? Answer the question, Palin. You could have responded to Biden’s attack of your man’s record. Avoiding because your team has something to hide?

Thanks, Gwen, for changing the topic to fit Palin’s talking points. Did she really just say she wants to ignore the causes? How are you going to solve it without knowing what started it? I’m talking about climate change and the “Drill baby drill” pistol-packing beauty queen doesnt have any interest in figuring out what caused it?

Biden: points out China’s contribution to dirty air and the delay in product from “Drill drill drill.” or wait. is it “Drill, baby, drill?” Ah, doesn’t matter, either way it’s still a bad idea.

We’re off to a good start – Biden brings up the past 8 years of failed policy… and Palin brings up McCain’s one instance of pushing for government regulation in 30 years of the senate.

Biden – McCain a flip flopper? Or just aged and out-of-touch. Palin – really greatest workforce in the world?? Track record of reform – TEAM OF MAVERICKS?? 96% of Obama’s votes on party lines..well McCain has voted with 92% of Bush’s policies. Maverick to the senate for NEW and DIFFERENT?

Called out – did not respond to the question…

Commitment to get rid of “corruption” by Palin – for who, you said Joe 6 pack and hockey moms?? Is that America? Oh sharp dip right there. Woah she’s rollar coasting now. Movin back up “never again will we be taken advantage of.” She nailed that one.

Biden – we let wall street run wild, Obama talking about regulation – McCain on over 20 occasions promising DEregulation. Asks Joey the gas guy about filling up gas – we need relief for the middle class now. We need tax relief for Americans – Palin agrees. But wait, what was the original question? Doesn’t seem to matter. She says Obama has voted to increase taxes – Biden’s right, he did NOT vote to raise taxes and McCain voted the exact same way. McCain voted 447 times to raise taxes. Called out – he’s starting to patronize here. Sharp but won’t even look at her. She’s on fire but ooops time is up.

Biden talking about fairness, he’s driving home the middle class right now, the “economic engine” of America. Palin – bringin up Main street again and on the defense. Details, details, details on health care – espousing republican values here – go against the state system, don’t pay your taxes? Biden needs to stay cool on this one. Starts on point one: redistribution, goes to the facts – 95% of business in America make less than $250,000, and on to health care – he too brings up the details…lots of numbers here, the audience seems to be lagging, he ends with a stinger “the ultimate bridge to nowhere” (think he read that NYTimes “Suspension Bridge to Nowhere” article last week.

Never in recent history have the expectations for a vice presidential candidate in a debate been so low as they are tonight for Sarah Palin. As bits and pieces of the disastrous Couric interview have surfaced over the week, pundits have nearly hyperventilated and the American people have shown their unease through recent polling. However, in the context of this debate, this information only hurts Joe Biden.

Biden has lots of experience and is a legitimate expert in foreign policy (he is arguably more qualified than Obama), but if he bears down on Sarah Palin and exposes her weakness (which are many, and this will be tempting) it will be viewed as sexist and mean. He will not win over voters. What Joe Biden needs to do is to sit back and let Palin talk. She will make errors, and he needs to let the audience see them, not pounce on them himself.

Andrew Halcro wrote a piece the other day about debating Sarah Palin (he was an independent candidate against her for governor in 2006). He noted (and the debate video shows it) that Palin is an expert in the “non-answer” and will manage to dodge tough questions. Biden needs to provide a contrast by answering questions directly and clearly, not by harping on Palin’s incompetence.

All Palin has to do is exceed expectations with her fluency in foreign policy and other federal affairs. Which is a much easier task than Biden’s.